New computers help with the transition to virtual learning

Text by Ann DeCerbo
Photo by Jonathan Barbagallo

It would be an understatement to say that things were different for the 2019/20 sixth grade class at Botelle School than for previous graduating classes. Concerns over Covid-19 precipitated the start of remote learning in March 2020 and the students, who had long planned for the special capstone events of their “senior” year at elementary school, quickly found themselves in a new reality. Their dance, their last Botelle theater production, their final talent show, and their coveted Rhode Island trip — all cancelled. School desks were replaced by kitchen tables and school-issued Chromebooks became their primary access to teachers and classmates. 

“It was definitely a quick change,” says student Sophia Bazzano, “and an especially hard way to finish up our time at Botelle. We missed a lot.” 

In addition to their elementary school milestones, students missed some traditional middle school transition events, like going on a field trip to Northwestern Regional #7 to tour the classrooms and getting school lockers to store their belongings. 

To help ease some of the stresses of the transition, parent Patricia Coffey reached out to the Norfolk Connecticut Children’s Foundation (NCCF), asking for personal Chromebooks for each student. Coffey explains, “I was hoping to relieve at least one burden for families during such challenging times and make sure everyone had reliable access to a laptop.” 

The NCCF has a long history of supporting Norfolk’s children. Established in 1985, the foundation was formed to carry on the legacy of Ken and Dottie Satherlie, long time residents of Norfolk, and operators of Norfolk’s Laurel School, a non-profit residential school for children with special needs. The NCCF website explains, “It is because of Ken and Dottie Satherlie’s lifelong desire and commitment to serving children and believing that each and every child could reach their greatest potential through loving support and guidance that the NCCF was born.” 

The foundation is managed by a six-person board that accepts grant requests based on the “strong belief that no Norfolk child should be denied a civic, educational, social or cultural enrichment opportunity because of financial need.” The NCCF has held true to their mission  — providing yearly support of the Botelle PTO’s cultural events program and the Norfolk After School Program, as well as individual scholarships to help children attend summer camps and art, music, and theater programs. 

Following the promotion ceremony in June, each graduating student of the Botelle class of 2020 received a personal Chromebook purchased by the NCCF, and based on the specifications recommended by Botelle Principal Lauren Valentino and NWR7 Middle School Principal Fran Amara. Coffey reports, “So far, it’s working great in our home. I like that Ava has a dedicated chromebook just for school and we aren’t swapping a laptop back and forth since I need the home device for work as well.” 

Currently, NWR7 is following a hybrid school model. The student body is organized in two cohorts. Cohort A attends in-person classes on Monday and Tuesday and participates from home on Thursday and Friday. Cohort B follows the opposite schedule. All students work remotely on Wednesday while the building undergoes deep cleaning. 

Student David DeCerbo says, “The new chromebook is a massive upgrade to the others I’ve used. It allows me to do my work much faster. Pretty much all of our work is done and submitted on computers now, and we spend a lot of time directly connected. It’s been really great to have my own device. I’m definitely grateful to the Children’s Foundation for supporting us.”

The NCCF meets quarterly, and instructions for grant applications may be found on their website at www.norfolkchildren.com.